CREWE'S Bentley Motors will deliver the first Baby Bentleys this week - just in time for Christmas.

The stunningly crafted machine is in hot demand. The rich and famous have been falling over themselves to get their hands on the first Continental GTs from the Pym's Lane factory.

The car, which has taken four years to develop, is so sought-after that many people are willing to shell out much more than the £110,000 list price for the world's fastest four-seater coupe.

Bentley has announced that next year it intends to produce more than 4,000 vehicles - the most the factory has built in its illustrious history.

Over the past three years, the company has taken on 1,000 employees, lifting the workforce to 2,800.

Company officials say they are taking on an average of 28 employees a week.

England skipper David Beckham, Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand and pop legend Elton John are among the big names said to be among the first 3,200 customers to put down the £6,000 deposit.

Bentley's worldwide communications director, Sarah Perrin, said: 'This has been a very important year for us, with our one-two at Le Mans and with the launch of the Continental GT and the first customers receiving the vehicle this week.

'Next year will be an even more critical year as we hope to enter a new golden era for Bentley.'

There has been £63m invested in the factory by parent company Volkswagen. The overhaul of the Crewe site has included alterations costing £14m, automated lacquer-spraying chambers costing £6m and a £16m quality testing centre.

The company hopes the Continental GT, which is considerably cheaper than other Bentleys, will appeal to a broader market.

Prof Garel Rhys, an industry expert from Cardiff Business School, has predicted Bentley will outsell Rolls-Royce by 10 to one over the next decade. The Baby Bentley has been named 'most beautiful car in the world' in an Italian competition.